Fiskardo, Greece

Fiskardo (Greek, Modern: Φισκάρδο, Ancient/Katharevousa: -on), lately, more commonly Fiscardo, is a village located about 54 km north of Argostoli and a district of the city of Erisos.It is the northernmost port of the Ionian island of Kefalonia, a short distance from Ithaca. The village was once called Panormos, but it was later renamed after Robert Guiscard, Duke of Apulia and Calabria and founder of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies who died at the Atheras beach in 1085, during the time of Frankish (Norman) dominion in Greece. Fiskardo is also the two kilometre long bay in which the port is located. Fiskardo and the dense forest in the surrounding area have been declared areas of great natural beauty and are protected under Greek law. In recent years a small tourist industry has developed, centred on luxury villas in the area around the village.Fiskardo is located at the end of the road linking Argostoli and Fiskardo. Fiskardo serves rural roads. Fiskardo has a small and diminishing fishing fleet. The coast around Fiskardo is mainly rocky with numerous pebble-beached coves. There are numerous viewpoints in the area around the village that offer panoramic views of the Ionian Sea including Daskalio island, Ithaca, northwestern Aetolia-Acarnania and the island of Lefkada. The port serves ferry routes to the islands of Ithaca with the port of Frikes and Lefkada. Fiskardo is located north-east of Assos and north of Agia Efimia.In late 2006 construction workers building a new hotel near the centre of Fiscardo stumbled upon a perfectly preserved Roman-era grave complex filled with gold jewellery, glass, clay pots and bronze artefacts. The complex measures 26 by 20 feet and is the shape of small house. Inside, five burial sites were found including a large vaulted grave and a stone coffin, as well as gold jewellery, pottery and bronze offerings. Archaeologists found gold earrings and rings, gold leaves that may have been attached to ceremonial clothing, as well as glass and clay pots, bronze artefacts decorated with masks, a bronze lock and copper coins. On a nearby plot, archaeologists also discovered a remarkably well-preserved theatre with their stone back rests still in place. Other excavations have uncovered remains of houses, a baths complex and a cemetery, all dating to Roman times - between 146 B.C. and 330 A.D. The Greek Culture Ministry said at the time that the find is unique. “Nothing else like it has ever been discovered on any Ionian island," said a ministry spokesman. “The site was missed by grave robbers and was untouched when opened. It is so perfectly preserved that the 2000 year old ancient door still swings open smoothly on stone pivots.”In late 2005, when building a shopping complex close to the harbour in Fiscardo, workers discovered a plaque dating back to ancient Greece which gave thanks to the people of Panormos from the people of Athens for allowing them to hunt in the area. The 5th century Greek historian Herodotus had mentioned a port named Panormos and it now seems possible that Panormos and Fiscardo are one and the same.